Updated July 11, 2024
Fellows’ skill levels, interests, and goals are taken into account in the development of their individualized training plans across the two years. Training activities are selected that address trainee skills and development needs, while allowing for increased experiences in areas of strength. Fellows in the Major Area of Study in Rehabilitation Psychology develop Individualized Training Plans that can be modified throughout either year, depending on a Fellow’s needs, and emerging interests. As a Fellow transitions into their second year of training, they are given greater autonomy within their rotations due their more advanced nature of knowledge and skills. In addition, in their second year, the advanced Fellow will provide peer mentorship to the Fellow who will be in their first year of the training program.
Training Settings:
Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (SCI/D) Supervisors: Sarah S. Brindle, Ph.D., N. Garcia, Ph.D., David N. Kerner, Ph.D., Jeffrey Shulze, Ph.D., Judy Su, Ph.D. The Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (SCI/D) Health Care Group at VALBHCS is the largest SCI Center in the United States. Patients in this setting present with a broad spectrum of SCI/Ds, from the newly injured individual facing a catastrophic life change, to the individual injured many years ago who is now coping with decreased functional ability as a result of the aging process. SCI/Ds can result from traumatic injury such as gunshot wound or motor vehicle accident, or from a variety of non-traumatic causes such as Multiple Sclerosis. Persons with spinal cord injuries are classified as either tetraplegic or paraplegic. SCI/D rehabilitation and treatment demands a broad interdisciplinary approach, both for acute rehabilitation and for ongoing care. The psychologists and various trainees work within closely-knit teams that include physicians, pharmacists, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, case managers, dietitians, respiratory therapists, psychiatrists, and especially the nursing staffs of the three different SCI units. Psychology staff assess each patient and provide interventions that address a wide variety of adjustment, mental health and health behavior concerns. Frequently seen problems include adjustment to disability, depression and anxiety, pain, and adherence concerns. Intervention approaches include individual counseling, education, psychotherapy, sex therapy, relaxation training, pain management, social skills training, patient education, couples therapy, and psychosocial support for the injured person’s family and social support systems. A neuropsychological testing service is embedded within the SCI/D department. This rotation provides opportunities for both inpatient and outpatient neuropsychological evaluations for a diverse and complex population that presents with a variety of cognitive concerns related to disorders frequently seen within the SCI/D and aging Veteran population. Opportunities to participate in neuropsychological testing and its associated responsibilities including report writing, rehabilitation specific feedback and team consultation are available. Given the fast-paced and interdisciplinary environment of inpatient rehabilitation, postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to operate at developmentally appropriate levels of autonomy within dynamic treatment teams. Through the training year, fellows will gain advanced skills in flexibly adapting to the needs of our Veterans as well as the treatment team to provide optimal interdisciplinary care. Additionally, our fellows are treated as
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